Electrical prospecting apparatus



March 3, 1942.

s. KRAsNow ET AL ELECTRICAL PROSPECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6; 1957 INVENTORS SHELLEY KRASNOW BY WWI-MAN AT ORNEYS.

March 3, 1942. s. KRASNOW ETAL 2,274,903

ELECTRICAL PROSPECTING' APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6,1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2,

SHELLEY KRA ..J05. Mgs KAUFMAN- A TTORNEYS.

IN V EN TORS March 3, 1942. s. KRASNOW ET AL 2,2

ELEGTRiCAL PROSPECTING- AEPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS SHELLEY KRASNOW AT ORNEYS.

Patented ii, 1942 I-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL raosrnc'rmo APPARATUS Shelley Krasnow, New York, N. Y., and Joseph M. S. Kaufman, Washington, D. C.

Application February 6, 1931, Serial him-124,516

2Claims. (Cl.175182) This invention relates to electrical prospecting apparatus of the type inwhich are measured the electrical properties of selected portions of the earth included between, or proximate to, spaced electrodes.

One object of the invention is to provide a convenient apparatus for the purpose described, which will allow measurements to be made with facility. Another object is to provide means by which the apparatus can be conveniently standardized. Still another object is to provide an apparatus which can be adapted easily to serve for two or more techniques of measurement. Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which may be used for the direct current earth resistivity technique. Still another object of th invention is to provide an apparatus which may be used for the commutated direct current earth resistivity technique.

In the embodiment of the invention described below:

of the panel of the appastandardizing by another method.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the cable assembly shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the panel of the apparatus showing connections made for standardizing with the assembly shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, showing connections made for following one measuring technique.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic .view of the apparatus, showing connections made for following another measuring'technique. a

Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of the panel of the apparatus, taken \across the section lines II-I I.

For convenience in description, the apparatus will be considered -as having two circuits, the "potential circuit and the current circuit. The components of the two circuits are mounted upon an insulating panel I, though it is understood that by the proper use of insulating mountings, a panel of conducting material may be employed. In the potential circuit, which is adapted to measure E. M. F. by the potentiometric method, 2 is a battery of a conventional type, mounted on the underside of the panel I, and shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. The battery 2 is inserted in the slide wirecircuit of the potential system of the apparatus. A rheostat 3 is provided to control the current flowing in the slidewire circuit. 3 is a coarse slide wire adjustment; the movable contact of which is connected to one of the movable contacts of a double-pole double-throw reversing switch 8; In the slide wirecircuit is a jack 9, in which is normally kept a plug III. A standard resistance {0a is mounted upon the plug I0, and has it terminals' connected to thecontacts of the plug Ill. The value ofthe resistance Illa is best made that of the milliammeter 2|. The plug I0 and jack 9 are polarized, so that they can be fitted together in only one way. In the particular modification shown, the polarizing of the jack is attained by making one of the sockets of the jack 9 of difierent diameter than the other. A stationary contact of the switch 8 is connected to the galvanometer 6. Oneof the movable contacts of switch 8 is connected to the movable contact of a singlepole, triple-throw switch II, and also to one of the contacts of the triple contact jack I2. The other movable contact is connected to the movable contact of the single-pole triple-throw switch I3, and also to one of the contacts of the jack I2. Switch 8 has two positions, designated as a and b. Switch II can make contact either with a. lead to binding post I4, that to binding post I5, or'to common lead I6. Similarly, switch I3 can make contact with common lead I6, binding post II, or binding post I 8. Lead I6 is connected to binding post I9,"which is also connected to one of the contacts of jack I2.

In the current circuit, 20 is a polarized, double contact jack. One lead from this extends to the milliammeter 2I, the other lead going to one movable contact of a double-pole, doublethrow reversing'switch 22. A lead from the milliammeter 2| extendsto the other movable contact of the switch 22. The stationary contacts of the switch 22 are connected to the binding posts 23 and 24. The switch 22 has the two possiblepositions designated as c and d. vA shielding system is provided, consisting of shields 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25c and-25f, placed-about the conducting parts of the milliammeter, switch, binding posts, and jack elements, respectively. These shields are connected to a common lead 23, which is in turn connected to that contact of jack l2, which is connected to binding post l9. To standardize the E. M. F. measuring system,

two pieces of auxiliary equipment are provided,

so that it is possible to standardize in two different ways. One of these, shown in Fig. 3, consists of a double conductor cable 21, having at one end a plug 23, adapted to fit in jack 9, and at the other end a plug 28, adapted to fit into jack 20. The other standardizing device is shown in Fig. 5. It consists of a double conductor cable 30 connected at one end to a plug 3| adapted to fit into two of the contacts of jack l2. At the other end is a plug 32 adapted to fit into Jack 20.

A standard resistance 33 is connected across the jack 32, as shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 11 is shown a detail of oneof the elements in the current". circuit. One of the contact elements of Jack has been selected as a typical current carryingelement. This element, numbered 34 is of metal, and has-electrical con- 'mon, and convenient potential is that 01! the the need for the standard cell and to utilize instead the current measuring element which must be used in the apparatus for other purposes. The methods of standardizing described nection made to it by means of a lug 35. Surrounding the element 36, is an insulating bushing 36, around the lower end of which is an insulating washer 3?. Surrounding the bushing 36,

is a conducting, in thi case a metallic, bushing 25f. Around the lower portion of bushing 25! is a conducting ring 38. Under this ring is a lug 39, which serves to make electrical connection to the bushing 25]. The entire assemblage is held in place on the panel I, by a nut 43, which engages the lower threaded portion of the element 3t. It is thus seen that any current which leaks through or around bushing 33 and washer 37, will be intercepted by the metallic element 25f. In this way, leakage of current to the insulating panel I, is prevented.

The magnitudes of the currents in The current flowing in the former may be of the orderof 0.5 ampere, while that flowing in the erroneous deflection of the galvanometer, entirely unrelated to measurements being made. The

user will therefore obtain an erroneous reading for his measured potential. At the same time it is necessary to have both circuits on one panel for convenient operation. The controls for both circuits must be operated almost simultaneously, in the use of the apparatus. Further still, the milliammeter and galvanometer must be read as nearly simultaneously as possible, which necessitates their being placed in close proximity to one another. During the time it-might take an observer to move his eye from the galvanometer to say, an externally placed milliammeter, thev value of the current in the current circuit might change enough to invalidate results.

For these reasons, the elements of both circuits are mounted upon the same panel of inherein, are intended to allow the user to obtain a definite and known slide wire current in his slide wire circuit. The procedures are as follows:

Standardizing-Method 'I This is shown in Fig. 5. Plug it is removed from .jack 9, and plug inserted in its stead. Plug 29 is inserted in'jack 20. A short-circuiting wire is connected across binding posts 23 and-23. Rheostat 3 is now manipulated until the current flowing in the slide wire" circuit, as indicated in the milliamm'eter 2|, is that determined to be the correct value in the initial calibration of the instrument. Plugs 28 and 29 are now removed, and plug l0 reinserted in Jack 9. The; instrument is now ready for use.

Standardizing-Method II This is shown in Fig. 8. Plug 32 is inserted into Jack 20, and plug 3| inserted into two of the "current" and potential circuits are very difi'erent.

iii)

sulating material. To prevent the leakageof current above mentioned, each current element is surrounded by an insulating bushing, which in turn is surrounded by a conducting bushing. All the bushings, or shields. are connected to a common lead 26, as seen in Fig. 2, and are further connected to a binding post 19, which may be maintained at any convenient potential. A comthe contacts of Jack H. A battery is connected across binding posts 23 and 25. A current will now be indicated as flowing through the'standard resistance 33. Knowing the value of. the current and of the resistance, the voltage drop across the latter can be easily computed.' The slide wires l and 4 are manipulated so 'as to indicate this voltage. Key 5 is next closed, and rheostat 3 manipulated till a balance is indicated. The instrument is now standardized. Plugs 3| and 32 are next removed, as is the battery across binding posts 23 and 2|. The instrument is now ready for use. It is understood that the positions of switches 8 and 22 must correspond when following this standardizing technique.

Checking potential circuit in the immediate vicinity of the instrument.

This may be accomplished by connecting binding post I9 to the desired source of potential. I The mode of making the earth resistivity measurements will best be understood by a reference to the prior art patents, such as that to Gish, No. 1,813,845, or that to Slichter, No. 1,826,961.

Making direct current earth resistivity measurement a i O nnection is made as shown diagrammatically in g. 9. A plug connected to a source of current is inserted into plug 20.- Binding posts 23 and 2B are connected to a pair of ground stakes GI and G2. Binding posts l4, l5, l1, and I8, are

5 respectively connected to ground stakes G3, G4,

G5, G5. Switch 8 is held in position a, and

switch 22 held in position 0. Switches II and I3 are manipulated so as to include between their contacts, leads connected to the ground stakes between which it is desired to measure potential difference.

and I3 is now measured with the "potential The E. M. F. between switches l'l circuit used as a potentiometer. If it is desired to take readings in the reverse direction of the current, so as to eliminate the efiects of polarization, ground currents, etc., at the terminals,

switch 22 can be moved to position d and switch 8 to position "b, and the measurements repeated as before. It is understood that the current as indicated on the milliammeter is read as nearly simultaneously as possible with, the reading of E. M. F.

Making commutated direct current'earth resistivity measurement The technique for this measurement is described in the patent to Gish, U. S. 1,813,845. To adapt the apparatus described herein for this technique, the set-up shown in Fig. 9 is adopted. Connection to the "current through a plug adapted to fit into jack 20. Concircuit is made nection to the potential circuit is made through a three-pronged plug, adapted to fit into jack l2.

The prong of the plug which fits into the contact of the jack attached to lead l9, serves to connect the shielding system of the commutator to the system of the apparatus. A rheostat is inserted between binding posts 23 and 24,- to limit the current flowing in the current circuit. In some cases the rheostat is found unnecessary, and a short circuiting wire is placed across the binding posts. In the use of the commutator, the switch 8 serves to check the former for any bias.

of theicurrent" system and those of the "potential system. Such shielding elements, whether placed about the components of the current" or of the potentia system, are considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

It is thus seen that a convenient and improved apparatus is provided for the purpose named,

. capable of being adapted'to different measuring techniques by the mere re-arrangement of connections and the proper manipulation of switches. It is further seen that provision is made for calibrating and checking the apparatus by different methods. It is further seen that certain components of the apparatus serve differing functions, depending upon what method of calibrain one technique, and for connecting a battery The check is made by reversing the battery leads to the commutator, reversing the current plug at the commutator, and throwing the switch 8 from its first position to reverse.

It will be understood that due to very slight mechanical imperfections in the commutator, or due to parasitic efiects in the commutator due to thermoelectricity, and other, causes, the commutator may give slightly different results for current fed into it for one polarity than it would give for current fed at another polarity. It is important in using the apparatus to know the extent of this bias, as'it is sometimes called. If a marked bias developed, it would invalidate results, or at least introduce a considerable error therein. The method described immediately above allows one to determine the commutator bias conveniently by means of the control and the connecting elements mounted on the panel.

While the shielding elements have been shown as placed about the components of the "current system, it will be understood that they will serve their purpose if they are placed anywhere where they may intercept leakage between components in another.

We-claim:

1. In, an electrical prospecting apparatus, a current circuit and a potential circuit, rigidly fixed members of both said circuits for making connections to the earth, and a cooperating calibrating member having elements registering mechanically with the members of both circuits, the calibrating member serving to connect temporarily simultaneously the current and potential circuits, the calibrating member having a resistance element serving to simulate the efiect of an earth resistance of known value. Y

2. In an electrical prospecting apparatus, a current circuit and a potential circuit, the current circuit having a pair of terminalsrigidly mounted in spaced relation to one another, a

' potential circuit having an additional pair of rigidly mounted terminals in spaced relation to one another, a calibrating member having a re sistance of known value to permit comparison of the currents flowing in the said potential and current circuits, .the said calibrating member having a pair of rigidly'mounted members engaging with the rigidly mounted elements of the potential circuit and having an additional pair of rigidly mounted members engaging with the rigidly mounted members of the current circuit, the said calibrating member being easily applied to and completely removable from the respective terminals of the said current and potential circuits.

SHELLEY KRASNOW. NJ. M. S. KAUFMAN. 

